Transgendered Athletes in Professional Sports

Other Sports

Just last month I went into the ladies room by mistake to take a piss. It was awkward because I was sure where I was supposed to be(in the men's room) but there were no urinals. I simply shrugged my shoulders and squeezed into a stall without being able to close the door behind me. Then all of the sudden I kept hearing/feeling people walking swiftly past me. I turned my head around to see a woman and her young daughter standing there petrified while I finished reliving myself. They ran out of there and I followed when I thought the close was clear...

Just last month I went into the ladies room by mistake to take a piss. It was awkward because I was sure where I was supposed to be(in the men's room) but there were no urinals. I simply shrugged my shoulders and squeezed into a stall without being able to close the door behind me. Then all of the sudden I kept hearing/feeling people walking swiftly past me. I turned my head around to see a woman and her young daughter standing there petrified while I finished reliving myself. They ran out of there and I followed when I thought the close was clear...

If you say yes, you also have to consider whether it's fair to the cisgendered athletes? I don't know what "fair" is myself, but can think of some possibilities where it may be questionable. It's an interesting discussion to have, if it doesn't go 980 route.

I have a question. This isn't rhetorical and I have no idea if it is even possible. Assume a male athlete goes through the exact same hormone therapy a transgender going from female --> male goes through, would they get a competitive advantage due to increased (possibly to dangerous levels?) testosterone/etc?

To me, the fact that they're transgender doesn't equate into the equation at all. It comes down to sports providing a fair and equal setting for people to compete. Athletes are a mix of naturally gifted and driven. Keeping PEDs and other advantages out of sports is important to keeping such treatment from becoming mandatory in order to compete.

That's why I'm against the carbon-fiber legs running in the Olympics. Every decision you make in life has consequences, changing your gender may have the consequence of giving up competitive sports. I think it's fair to say the person in question, had they been born a woman, would not be 6'8.

When it comes to the actual radio personalities. They should not have been suspended. Part of being a sports talk host is creating controversy and sparking conversation. When it comes to topics like this, if you're uncomfortable with the topic or don't agree with what they're saying -- then change the god damn channel. It's really not that hard, the only time I feel there is a case is when someone hears something like that and they lack the ability to get away from something that deeply offends them. People have the right to their opinion, and there are times that opinion is offensive to me. I ignore those shows.

I have a question. This isn't rhetorical and I have no idea if it is even possible. Assume a male athlete goes through the exact same hormone therapy a transgender going from female --> male goes through, would they get a competitive advantage due to increased (possibly to dangerous levels?) testosterone/etc?

To me, the fact that they're transgender doesn't equate into the equation at all. It comes down to sports providing a fair and equal setting for people to compete. Athletes are a mix of naturally gifted and driven. Keeping PEDs and other advantages out of sports is important to keeping such treatment from becoming mandatory in order to compete.

That's why I'm against the carbon-fiber legs running in the Olympics. Every decision you make in life has consequences, changing your gender may have the consequence of giving up competitive sports. I think it's fair to say the person in question, had they been born a woman, would not be 6'8.

When it comes to the actual radio personalities. They should not have been suspended. Part of being a sports talk host is creating controversy and sparking conversation. When it comes to topics like this, if you're uncomfortable with the topic or don't agree with what they're saying -- then change the god damn channel. It's really not that hard, the only time I feel there is a case is when someone hears something like that and they lack the ability to get away from something that deeply offends them. People have the right to their opinion, and there are times that opinion is offensive to me. I ignore those shows.

See I look at this differently. PEDs are not dangerous when taken with professional consultation. Why not allow them, especially if people are going to constantly try to gain an edge? If everyone has the same access to PEDs, then those with the natural talents and drive will rise to the top.

That being said I do think there is an issue with things being unfair regarding transgender athletes.

Finally, in terms of freedom of speech I disagree. They are on free federal airwaves and are subject to regulations and guidelines. What ESPN did was right. If this was XM, however, I would agree with you.

See I look at this differently. PEDs are not dangerous when taken with professional consultation. Why not allow them, especially if people are going to constantly try to gain an edge? If everyone has the same access to PEDs, then those with the natural talents and drive will rise to the top.

That being said I do think there is an issue with things being unfair regarding transgender athletes.

Finally, in terms of freedom of speech I disagree. They are on free federal airwaves and are subject to regulations and guidelines. What ESPN did was right. If this was XM, however, I would agree with you.

I don't disagree with your about PEDs being dangerous with regulation. And admittedly, over the years my opinion on this topic have changed from your stance to a non-PED stance. I see this as two fold. One, it's the slippery slope argument. Maybe use of HGH is allowed, but then it slowly becomes more and more supplements and less and less regulation. I will say this, I don't think athletes should be forced to take PEDs, which I think this would promote. Everyone will continue to try to get an edge -- but that edge may come at a higher price. Regardless, we could start a thread on that and get plenty of feedback.

As far as the final topic, I see your argument but don't agree personally. They didn't say anything against FCC rules. They didn't use language that was out of hand, etc. I think the topic is a sensitive one. They may not have handled it perfectly, but I still think you can turn the channel. There are shows I find offensive, for instance, shows like what Jerry Falwell used to run. I don't think they should be taken off the air because I don't believe in some of the messages that are part of that show.

I don't mean to upset anyone with the above, but it is a decisive topic that illustrates my point.

THe new drug seems to be adderall which is a common drug for ADHD. My son takes it for his ADHD, so I don't consider it a PED in a sense, although is designed to make you to be more focused and alert.

I take Concerta, which is the 'adult' version of Adderall. When I go to the gym with/without it in my system, it is MUCH different. I can do significantly more with the Concerta in my system. There's more than just focus. It's an amphetamine. It speeds everything up to help you focus, which is somewhat unintuitive.

I take Concerta, which is the 'adult' version of Adderall. When I go to the gym with/without it in my system, it is MUCH different. I can do significantly more with the Concerta in my system. There's more than just focus. It's an amphetamine. It speeds everything up to help you focus, which is somewhat unintuitive.

Yeah I can see that I haven't ever take either of them. Like I said my son takes it to focus and be attentive, so I guess I can see where it could help enhance performance.

I'm p*ssed these guys got suspended. Czaban is out there, he says a TON of stuff that I listen too and I'm like yeesh probably right on the line there, but he's entertaining as hell. This is a sports talk radio show, its not an educational platform, these guys are paid to be entertaining and funny. I really don't understand how when they say something like this, that its treated as such an outrage but people makes jokes along these lines in the movies all the time. If you listen to the clip, outside of "It" which I agree is unacceptable, its very much a discussion. They apologized yesterday, end of story.

I'm just getting so sick of everyone's reaction every time something like this happens that people need to be fired and suspended. The fact they apologized is not enough, these equality groups want blood. I know both of these guys will be fine, but the general principle just infuriates me. Instead of it being a teaching moment, groups fly off the handle and blow the whole thing way out of proportion. People in general are not allowed to make mistakes anymore, without their heads/jobs being called for. This goes way beyond just this story. It was really only a matter of time before this happened with Czaban, but just in the grand scheme of things in society today.

My general thought on the actual "issue" is that this woman should not be playing, but I don't really have a way to back this up other than its an unfair competitive advantage. I've heard comments (not on here, but I've been following this story the last few days) of "well she wont be on the team forever", and the same can be said for all the people who are in that league who won't get a chance to play junior college basketball again and now are a part of this circus, which is what it has turned into.

As Czaban said on the show, every human is entitled to do what they have to do to feel good about themselves and live their life the way they want... but sports is different.